By Aabigayle Goodwin

The country’s focal point on Climate Change, Climate Justice and sustainable developing is handing up her hat after more than 19 years on the job.

Director of the Department of the Environment Ambassador Diann Black Layne is moving on and passing the baton to another individual who is equally enthusiastic.

“So I have been in the position as ambassador for climate change now for 16 years. Yes, it’s been quite a while. and from the time that I was made ambassador to now, the whole movement, the climate change has become into a really big, strong movement,” Black Layne said.

With the role came a number of challenges, the developing of many programs such as the adaptation and green climate funds.

“So, while I was the ambassador, we saw the operationalization of the adaptation fund. when I became ambassador first, it wasn’t operationalized. and we worked with G77 and China to get that done. The Green Climate Fund. I was part of the design of the fund, the drafting of the fund, the negotiation to form the fund. I chaired the standing committee on finance that entered into a contractual agreement between the fund and the COP,” she said.

However, with climate negotiations shifting towards justice and legal frameworks, Black-Layne feels it’s time for a new leader.

“It’s more about justice, climate justice and the department of the environment, it’s not, myself personally and the department of, it’s not really, that’s not really our expertise,” she added.

Ruleta Camacho-Thomas is  the newly appointed Ambassador for Environmental Affairs. Camacho-Thomas, a former deputy director of the environment department, is no stranger to the post.

 “I’ve worked with her before, and  I think she’ll be excellent. She has all the technical knowledge. She understands the cross section, before she went to National Park, she used to attend COP as well and we were trained by Dr. John Ash together to do this work. So, she is passionate about it. I think she’s going to do a really good job.

Black-Layne will officially step down in July.